The Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Buddhist Solidarity Front held a protest today (27) in front of the Bangladesh Embassy, condemning attacks on Buddhist religious sites in Bangladesh.
The Front said that minority Buddhists, as well as other religious groups in Bangladesh, are facing severe repression and violence and called on the global Buddhist community to intervene to protect their rights.
The protest highlighted that attacks on Bangladeshi Buddhists are not new, pointing to the destruction of 19 Buddhist temples and around 100 homes in 2012. Political instability following the collapse of the Awami League government in 2024 has further escalated violence, particularly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
According to recent reports, 2,442 acts of violence against religious minorities were recorded in Bangladesh between 2024 and 2025. In early 2025 alone, 25 Buddhist temples were attacked, while four Buddhist tribals were killed and homes looted or burned. Cases of murders, rapes, and forced land acquisition targeting Buddhists are reportedly increasing.
The Front urged minority religious communities to unite and called on the Mahanayake Theros of Sri Lanka, the Maha Sangha, and Buddhists worldwide to act to protect the Buddhist heritage and lives of Bangladeshi Buddhists.
The protest reflects growing concern over the safety and civil rights of minority communities in Bangladesh.
